Antigua Guatemala museum hosts faith exhibition until 22 November

Antigua Guatemala (La Antigua Guatemala) is the setting for 125 years of faith, the temporary exhibition that marked the Museo de Arte Colonial's reopening on 29 October 2026. The display remains scheduled until 22 November 2026, giving visitors in November a current reason to include the museum in a city visit.

125 years of faith runs at the museum until 22 November

The Museo de Arte Colonial reopened progressively after a period of closure and preparation by Guatemala's Ministry of Culture and Sports. The exhibition focuses on the heritage of the Brotherhood of Jesus Nazareno de la Caída, with textiles, sculptures and processional objects linked to the Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma tradition.

The display includes tunics, mantles, rays, uniforms, banners and other historic items used around the religious procession. The tradition associated with the image has continued since 1902, while the museum's reopening creates a public setting for objects usually connected with Lenten observances. The ministry's reopening announcement also describes work on the building before visitors returned.

The exhibition's closing date is 22 November 2026. A second stage of the museum's return is planned for 11 November 2026, when two rooms are due to display works from the permanent collection, including the exhibition San Francisco de Asís: vida, visiones y legado.

The museum's return reconnects art with Antigua's heritage

The building holds a wider role than the temporary display. The museum's permanent collection includes colonial paintings, sculptures and furniture, while the ministry has said that more than 280 pieces will return gradually under technical procedures intended to protect the objects.

The collection's return links the November programme with the city's protected historic setting. UNESCO describes Antigua as a former capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala, founded in the sixteenth century and largely damaged by the earthquake of 1773. The city was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979, a status recorded by the UNESCO heritage record.

That history is visible in the relationship between the exhibition and the museum's subject. Processional textiles and banners connect living religious practice with the colonial artistic traditions preserved across the historic city, while the planned return of permanent works extends the reopening beyond a single temporary show.

Visiting Antigua Guatemala: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The exhibition runs at the Museo de Arte Colonial from 29 October to 22 November 2026.
• The museum is open again after its closure, with the temporary display forming the first public stage of its progressive reopening.
• The venue is at 5th Calle Oriente No. 5 in Antigua Guatemala, and the city is in the department of Sacatepéquez.
• Spanish is Guatemala's official language and the national currency is the quetzal.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Antigua Guatemala

When does 125 years of faith take place at Antigua Guatemala?

The temporary exhibition runs at the Museo de Arte Colonial from 29 October to 22 November 2026.

What has changed at Antigua Guatemala's colonial art museum?

The Museo de Arte Colonial has reopened progressively, beginning with the temporary exhibition and followed by a planned return of permanent works on 11 November 2026.

Where is Antigua Guatemala and how do you get there?

The city is in Guatemala's Sacatepéquez department, and the museum is at 5th Calle Oriente No. 5.